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To develop a treatment manual and pilot test this treatment intervention which is designed to prevent and reduce psychological distress in parents who have infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

To conduct a treatment intervention study in which parents of NICU infants will receive a 6-12 session treatment designed to reduce psychological distress, and to compare outcomes with parents who do not receive the intervention.

We hope to learn whether or not a simple psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational intervention offered to parents of NICU infants can prevent or minimize the development of symptoms of psychological distress in parents, including symptoms of anxiety and depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

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Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

English and Spanish-speaking mothers greater than 18 years of age of infants in the LPCH NICU >=26 weeks of gestation are eligible for screening.

Exclusion Criteria:

Mothers of children awaiting cardiac surgery, those who have congenital abnormities and those who are unlikely to survive, will be excluded.

Mothers of NICU infants who are found on their routine clinical psychosocial evaluation to be at high psychiatric risk (i.e., those with either psychotic symptoms or suicidal or infanticidal ideation) will also be excluded. These parents, however, will be referred for and receive appropriate mental health intervention.

Mothers who do not speak English or Spanish, or who do not have the ability to understand the questionnaires will be excluded.

Mothers who have active and current symptoms of suicidal ideation, or psychotic symptoms (delusions or hallucinations) as identified by self report or following a diagnostic interview will be excluded from the study, but will also be referred for emergency psychiatric evaluation.